According to the MSC official who begged not to be named, “It will be interesting for your report to make mention of the numerous container ships waiting at Lagos secure anchorage for a berth. Some have been there in excess of seven days. This presents the reader to a counter opinion to the one stated by ANLCA that there is no congestion in Lagos.
“At present, just at Lagos secure anchorage, there are seven ships waiting for berth. They are Maersk Conakry, Maersk Cardiff, Maersk Cuanza, Gerhard Schulte, Kota Segar, Kota Selamat, and Arkas Africa.
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“All the vessels mentioned are large container ships deployed in international routes waiting days or longer for a free berth to discharge in Lagos. Each day of waiting conservatively costs in the region of $30,000 per vessel, excluding secure anchorage fees and more importantly the fuel that will be burned making up lost time. This does not include other vessels drifting off Lome or further out to sea waiting berths.
“All the container terminal yards inside the ports are already filled with import containers following the strike and shortage of trucks arriving to pick up import units. Congestion in Lagos ports is real.
“Note that Onne and Port Harcourt are not affected by congestion surcharges. Thus this is not some attack on Nigerian importers by the foreign shipping lines but a response to a Lagos specific situation.
“It is also noteworthy that trucking costs in and around Lagos have jumped dramatically by well in excess of the stated congestion surcharge, but ANLCA has not raised this matter even though these costs are directly paid by the importer.
“The congestion charge referred to is part of the manifested seafreight charges and paid at origin by the shipper.”
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